As Ethiopia accelerates plans to develop nuclear energy and expand cancer treatment capacity, international experts are raising alarms about illicit radioactive waste shipments entering Africa under false pretenses.
Tariq Rauf, a senior consultant on global nuclear affairs and former Head of Verification and Security Policy at the IAEA, told Capital that contractors from developed countries are bribing local officials and falsifying shipping documents to pass hazardous nuclear materials off as commercial goods.
“No country should import waste from another country, period,” Rauf said, warning that such practices allow companies to evade strict environmental regulations in their home countries.
According to Rauf, the scheme typically involves falsified customs declarations and shipping manifests, enabling radioactive materials to pass through ports undetected. Several African countries have already unknowingly accepted such shipments, leading to long-term environmental damage and public health risks.
Ethiopia’s nuclear ambitions heighten urgency
The warning comes at a time when Ethiopia is expanding its peaceful nuclear applications in medicine, agriculture, and energy. The country is also laying the groundwork for its first nuclear power plant.
Data from the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission (ENEC) indicates that more than 8,000 new cancer cases are recorded annually, while limited radiotherapy capacity has created severe treatment bottlenecks.
To address this gap, the IAEA’s “Rays of Hope” initiative has partnered with Ethiopian authorities. In 2025, a state-of-the-art linear accelerator (LINAC) was installed at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, with additional radiotherapy centers planned or under construction in Gondar, Hawassa, Harar, and Mekelle.
While the IAEA has commended Ethiopia for establishing a national nuclear commission, Rauf stressed that building a robust regulatory framework is “a matter of national security” for countries entering the nuclear field.
Regulatory gaps pose security threats
Rauf outlined key areas requiring urgent attention, including the enactment of strict nuclear safety laws, empowering regulatory bodies with full inspection and enforcement authority, and investing in domestic training to build technical expertise.
He also warned of internal risks linked to poor tracking of radioactive materials used in medicine and industry. Without proper disposal systems, spent materials could enter the scrap metal market, exposing communities to dangerous radiation.
Balancing energy needs and safety
Ethiopia is currently evaluating long-term energy options to meet the needs of its population of over 130 million, including hydropower, gas, solar, and nuclear energy.
Speaking at the Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris on March 10, 2026, Minister of Irrigation and Lowlands Abraham Belay reaffirmed the country’s civilian nuclear ambitions.
“Ethiopia has made a sovereign choice to use the atom for the peaceful development of our country’s energy and the peaceful growth of our people,” he said. “Our demand is for kilowatts, not nuclear weapons.”
In January 2026, ENEC, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, held a workshop in Addis Ababa to review preliminary site studies for a nuclear power plant. Given Ethiopia’s location within the East African Rift Valley, the assessment benchmarked IAEA safety standards to evaluate seismic, hydrological, and environmental risks.
Opportunities alongside risks
Beyond energy, peaceful nuclear technologies are already contributing to agricultural development, including the creation of drought-resistant crops and improved pest control methods.
However, experts caution that the benefits come with significant risks if regulatory oversight remains weak. Improper handling or exposure to radiation—whether in medical treatment or industrial use—can have severe consequences for both patients and the wider public.
